Sheet folding apparatus



Aug. 29, 1961 E. J. MOCLOSKEY SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1958 FIGJ ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1961 E. J. M CLOSKEY 2, 7

SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a I INVENTOR.

EDWARD J. MCCLOSKEY ATTORNEY FIG.7

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2,998,247 Patented Aug. 29, 1961 2,998,247 7 SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS Edward J. McCloskey, Braun Place, Apt. 6B, Clifton, NJ. Filed July 9, 1958, Ser. No. 747,394 2 Claims. (Cl. 269-189) The present invention deals with a sheet folding apparatus and more particularly with a pedal operated sheet folding apparatus.

The apparatus of the invention is intended for use in the manual folding of wide sheets of such width dimensions which makes the handling thereof unwieldy and otherwise difficult to manage in a folding operation by one operator.

Heretofore, the folding of bedsheets, bedspreads, blankets, and the like, necessitated the employment, of two operators for the folding of wide sheets in order to accelerate the folding operation and avoid drawbacks or slowdown subsequent to the laundering of the sheets. Otherwise, the handling of the sheets requires substantial space which is unnecessary with the sheet folding apparatus of the present invention. 4 i I It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet folding apparatus for efficient fold handling by one operator. It is another object of the present invention to provide a sheet folding apparatus adaptable for use in limited space. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter following and the drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a vertical front plan view of the apparatus of the invention,

FIGURE 2 illustrates a side view of one of the embodiments of the invention along lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 illustrates a side view of one of the embodiments of the invention along lines 33 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 illustrates a side view of a modification of the embodiment illustrated by FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4A is a front view of FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 5 illustrates a side view of another embodi-v ment of the invention along lines 5--5 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 illustrates a front view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 as applied to a support therefore,

FIGURE 7 illustrates a vertical front view of another modification of the invention, and

FIGURE 8 illustrates a front view of FIGURE 6 with a sheet detachably secured thereto according to the invention.

The invention deals with a sheet folding apparatus including the combination of a pair of clamps, or a plurality of clamps, operated by a pedal means for detachably holding a wide sheet during folding operations and thereby permitting efiicient and speedy folding of the sheet by a single operator in limited space.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the apparatus of the invention comprises a plurality of laterally spaced clamps 1 and 2 with a pivot means 3 therebetween, and a pedal means 4 positioned below the pivot means. The spaced clamps 1 and 2 are connected to the pedal 4 through the pivot 3. For example, lines 5 and 6, such as cord lines or wire lines, are connected to each of the clamps 1 and 2 respectively, and pass in opposite directions through or over the guide or pivot 3, as illustrated by FIGURE 5, and then downwardly therefrom to the pedal 4, to which they are connected as at 7.

The clamps 1 and 2 are preferably secured to plates 8 and 9, respectively, and the pivot 3 is secured to a plate 10, whereby the clamps and pivot may be secured to a vertical wall 11 with the pedal 4 being preferably 'rotatably mounted on a base 12 resting on floor 13.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a particular type of clamp 1 comprising a U-shaped member 14 having front wall 15 and rear wall 16 connected by a base wall 17. The rear wall 16 is apertured substantially centrally thereof as at 18.

i A spring 19 having its opposite ends seated in front and rear cups 21 and stantially coaxially with the aperture 18, with one end of the spring being a free end engageable with the inner surface of front wall 15. Preferably, the cup 21 at the free end of the spring is provided with a pad member 22 such as felt or rubber for cushioning the spring engagement with the wall '15 and for gripping the sheet as hereinafter more particularly described. The plate 8 is provided with a guide member 23. The rear wall 16 of the U-shaped clamp is connected in spaced relation to the plate 8 by means of spacers 24 and 25. The guide member 23 is positioned rearwardly of the aperture 18. The line 5 is connected to the inner surface of the cup or plate 21 as at 26, passed through the spring 19 and the aperture 18 and over or through the guide means 23. Clamp 2 is constructed similarly to clamp 1.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the pedal 4 is mounted on a base 12 with one end being pivoted thereon by means of pivot 27 and the lines 5 and 6 being pivotally or otherwise secured to the other end as at 7.

In operation, a foot of the operator depresses the pedal 4, which activates the clamps to an open position by means of the lines 5 and 6 which compress the springs toward the rear wall 16 leaving a space between the free end of the spring 19 and front wall 15. When the pedal is released, the spring is normally urged toward the front wall 15.

FIGURES 4 and 4A illustrate a modification of the clamp member whereby the U-shaped clamp 14 is substituted with a plate member 28, spaced from the plate 8 by spaces 24 and 25- with FIGURE 2. Arms 29 and 30 extend forwardly of the plate 28. A clamp lever 31 is pivotally connected between the arms 29 and 30. The plate 28 is provided with an aperture 32 formed therethrough and the inner side of clamp lever is provided with a base 33. A spring member 34 is secured to the base 33 and plate 28 and positioned therebetween. A guide member 35 is positioned on the plate 8 rearwardly of the aperture 32. The line member 5 is secured to the base 33,

passes through aperture 32 and over or through the guide.

means 35.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a modification of the invention whereby instead of being mounted on a wall, the folding apparatus is mounted on a support comprising a horizontal cross arm 36 secured to upright 37 supported in vertical position on base 12. The support is strengthened by means of braces 38 and 39 positioned on opposite sides of the upright and connected to the cross arm and the upright.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a sheet member 40 as applied to the apparatus of FIGURE 6 for folding. In operation, the operator depresses the pedal 4 which activates the clamps 1 and 2 into open position as above described. Opposite corners of the sheet 40 are inserted into the open clamps 1 and 2 and the pedal is released thereby vertically supporting the sheet 40. The bottom of the sheet 4t) is then guided upwardly in alignment with the tip of the sheet. The pedal is again depressed and the doubled sheet corners are positioned and clamped by means of clamps 1 and 2. The operation is continued until the sheet is adequately folded and subsequently removed in folded condition.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modification of the invention by the substitution of mechanical linkage in lieu of the lines 5 and 6.

The modification comprises a base 41 with a pedal 42 having one end thereof pivotally secured thereto at 43, similarly to that illustrated by FIGURE 3. An upright rod 44 has its lower end pivotally secured to the other end 20 is secured to the rear wall 16 sub of the pedal 42 at 45. The upper end of the rod is provided with a ratchet 46. A horizontal cross arm 47 having a gear member 48 in engagement With the ratchet member 46. 'Thejrod is mounted on an upright 49 by means Qfa sleeve 50 secured to the upright 49 and through which sleeve the rod is vertically slideable. The cross arm issecured to the cross piece 51 by means of sleeves 52 and 53 with the cross arm being rotatable therein; The cross piece is mounted horizontally on the upper end of the upright 49 and cross piece 51 and upright 49 are strengthened by braces 54 and 55. The opposite-ends of the cross arm 47 are provided with connecting means 56 and 57. i The connecting means are positioned between the plate 8 and rear wall 16 of the clamp members -1 and 2 at the location of guide means 23 asillustratedbyFIG 2 Th'at'portion' of line 5 as illustrated by FIGURE Z between'guide 23 and cup 21, or equivalent linkage, isconnected to the connecting means 56 and 57.

" In operation, the pedal 42 is depressed and the rod' 44 is lowered, whereby the cross arm 47 is rotated counterclockwise by means of the gear and ratchet. In rotating the cross arm 47, the linkage causes the spring 19 to compress and open the clamp. 1. While the invention is described according to the specific 7 a pivot member mounted on the support means and positioned between the clamp members, the springs of said clamp. inembersoperatively associated with said clamp arms and normally urging theclamp members in closed position, a pedal member positioned below the'pivot member, and'means connecting the pedal member and the movabiear'ms of the clamp member's directly through the pivot member; wherebythe clamp members are simultaneously operated by said 'p'edal member.

2. A clamping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises mechanical linkage.-

' Rcferences'Cited in the file of this patent 2,211,768--' Dorkin Aug. 20, 1940 

